Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney’s Merger with Fowler White Boggs Among the Largest U.S. Law Firm Deals of 2014

Tampa, FL – January 9, 2015 - When Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC merged with the law firm of Fowler White Boggs P.A. in 2014, executives at Buchanan knew they were getting 92 established attorneys and increasing the firm's presence in Florida. What they didn't know was that the transaction would rank as the third largest law firm merger in the nation, and the largest in Florida.

According to a recent report from the independent consulting firm of Altman Weil, there were 82 law firm mergers and acquisitions in the United States that closed in calendar year 2014. The Buchanan merger with Fowler White brought the firm to 530 attorneys and provided a strong footprint in the state of Florida, with offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Fort Myers, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

Jack Barbour, Buchanan's CEO, said at the time of the merger, "This combination makes sense from every angle. We were looking to increase our bench in Florida, but only with professionals from a firm with the same cultural values and strategic objectives as ours. Fowler White Boggs perfectly fit the bill." Those sentiments remain the same as the combined firm nears its one-year anniversary.

The Altman Weil report analyzed law firm deals that ranged from the acquisition of small two- or three-person firms, to the largest transactions.

"The size of the transaction goes far beyond the numbers," said Rhea Law, chair of Buchanan's Florida offices. "The combination of our two firms has provided a broader base of services and expertise for our collective clients, along with an expanded reach throughout the nation."

About the Combined Firm

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (www.bipc.com) has a combined total of nearly 530 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States. The firm's Florida offices now include Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Tallahassee and Tampa. The firm also has offices in California, Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C.